A WhatsApp message offering a R2.5 million reward for the safe return of kidnapped businessman, Liyaqat Parker, 65, from Plattekloof, is doing the rounds on social media.
The message reads: “Muslim Business owners have come together after a plague of kidnapped Muslim business owners occurred and offer a reward of R2.5 million for information leading to the arrest of the kidnappers. Anyone with information regarding the suspects’ whereabouts or witnessed to the incident is to contact the investigation officer Constable Chesron de Vries on
084 493 8472 or 08600 10111.”
The Daily Voice was unable to confirm if the message is legitimate.
The cell number of the officer goes straight to voicemail.
Captain FC van Wyk says the case is “highly sensitive” and said Parker was still missing.
“Circumstances surrounding this case are being investigated and this office is unable to divulge finer aspects of the investigation.”
The Daily Voice tried contacting the Parker family spokesman, lawyer Walied Brown, but he did not respond to queries.
On Monday, 9 July, Parker was parking his car in the basement of his office building in Parow when men in a silver Toyota Hilux double cab bakkie, followed him in.
The suspects robbed a guard of his phone and locked him up in a toilet.
They forced Parker into their vehicle and sped off .
Parker is a founding member of the Foodprop Group, which owns the Foodworld chain of supermarkets.